Donald Lynn Horrocks

Donald Lynn Horrocks was born 01 November 1945 and died 08 October 2025. He is survived by his children Alisa (Jeffrey) Thewes, Matthew (Amy) Horrocks and Mary Horrocks,

grandchildren Jacob (Allie) Wollangur, Madeline Thewes, Jeffrey Thewes, Lila Thewes, Justin Horrocks, Lucy Thewes, Emily Horrocks, Max Thewes, adopted grandchildren Alex and Erica Clymer, and great grandchildren Oliver and Finnegan Wollangur, and by his brothers Norris (Shirley), Ronald (Jean), and Timothy (Torry) Horrocks. He was preceded in death by his wife Janet, first wife and mother of his children Linda, and his parents, Norris and Helen.

Don, or “Gunner,” as his brothers called him, was born and raised on a farm in Onaway. He graduated from Onaway High School. His mother Helen said even as a baby, his rambunctiousness and mischievousness necessitated a cage be put over the crib during naptime and at night. Gunner took great pride in being a farmer and working alongside the men of his family, his father Norris and brothers Tim, Ronnie and Norrie, even showing great concern for the cows in letters he wrote to home during his time in Vietnam. He served in the US Army from 12 January 1966 through 11 January 1968 at the rank of an SP4, drafted alongside his twin brother, Ronnie. He married Linda Walters when he returned from Vietnam, with whom he had three children, Alisa, Matthew, and Mary. Linda remarked that he wore many hats, often changing into different costumes during the course of the day for his countless performances and roles as father, coach, mentor, auctioneer, business owner, county commissioner, farmer, gardener, hunter, fairboard member and manager, truck driver, and repo man. He worked for Citizens National Bank for several decades, and was dedicated to volunteer work – he took special pride in his work with Northern Michigan Veterans Affairs. Don loved his auctioneering business, Horrocks Auctioneering, and the work he did as a volunteer auctioneer for Ducks Unlimited, the NRA, and Cheboygan County Youth Livestock Program. He loved his wife and high school sweetheart Janet, and they spent a happy 38 years together before she passed in 2024. Don naturally made friends and had an abundance of them; He was never shy, never afraid to crack a quick joke, and was well known for his homemade sayings and goofy antics. He enjoyed getting out of the house for anything from morning coffee groups, to get togethers, to long winded conversations (usually pertaining to ‘Nam), to parties at hunting camp, but he also loved decorating the house for the holidays in the fall and winter and tending his garden in the spring and summer. As Grandpa Don, he was quick to dote on his grandkids; he and Grandma “Bean” loved going to hockey games and horse shows, buying armbands for all the rides at the fair, making creampuffs, telling bedtime stories, making Christmas special every year, and teasing them all endlessly (including Grandma Bean). Don was funny in a disarming way, full of warmth, eager to help, and worked tirelessly with and for the people he cared about. His family is grateful for all the time they got to spend with him and for everything he did as a dad, brother, and grandfather.

Visitation for Don will be held at the Nordman Christian Funeral Home on Sunday, October 12th from 4-8pm. A funeral will take place the following day, Monday, October 13th at 11am with a visitation from 10am-11am at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Onaway.

In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make a charitable donation should consider the Cheboygan County Veterans Affairs or the Cheboygan County Youth Livestock Program.

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